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Sunday, September 30, 2012

Seinfeld’s experiment of filming himself and friends in cars, getting coffee proved to be a successful one. He has said in interviews that he went into the project without any specific expectations, rather, it was just something he wanted to try and thought audiences might enjoy.
Jerry filmed ten episodes and aired them weekly from late July through last week, in his words, until he ran out. This scheduling was a smart choice, allowing him to build an audience during the summer while the network series were on hiatus and end just as the new television season is starting. He further released the episodes in a sequence which felt like a season, drawing us in with some big names and building toward others at the end:

You are of course free to watch these in any order, but this sequence has a pleasing rhythm to it.

Over the course of the episodes, Jerry continually mixes the setting between Los Angeles and his native New York (though he may have originally filmed these in a different order), the types of comedy we associate with each guest, the styles of coffee shops visited and of course, the cars. An explanation of each week's car choice is posted on the CCC Facebook page; I’d be even more interested to see any forethought that went into the choice of restaurant - mostly old school diners, with deviations like one to a bowling alley in Bob Einstein’s episode. The continuous changes in setting and personalities kept the series fresh and surprising each week, even in instances when I was less familiar with the guest’s work (Jerry provides a CV on each comedian at the beginning of the episode so even if you haven’t seen them before you can get a sense of what they will bring to the show.)

Each episode is worth studying, but the arguable highlights of the series took place in the last two episodes, featuring Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks and finally Michael Richards. The second to last episode starts like the previous ones with Jerry getting coffee with Carl Reiner, during which Reiner mentions that he and Mel Brooks have met for dinner every night for the past forty years, and extends Jerry - and us - a special invitation to join them.

The dinner scenes are a complete joy to watch. The fact that these two entertainment legends have such a close lifelong friendship, and eat dinner every night as that tradition slips away, is a rarity worth seeing. We also get to see Jerry - an idol to many of us - in the fan role, as his own heroes share stories of Get Smart, The Producers and The Dick Van Dyke Show. It’s great fun.

Last, we see Jerry with none other than Kramer himself, Michael Richards. As many know, Richards has a checkered past, notably relating to a 2004 onstage outburst from which his public image never fully recovered. Even in the 2009 Curb Your Enthusiasm staged Seinfeld reunion, Richards had the most minor role of the four cast members, audiences still sensitive to the event.

Needless to say, I wasn’t sure what to expect from seeing Richards on CCC but went into the episode with an open mind. It starts off with some zaniness, with Richards suggesting they visit Sugar Ray Leonard - only to find they had the wrong house - and donning a surfer wig and sunglasses disguise - only run into someone with the same real-life look. A disclaimer at the beginning of the episode reads, "Certain things in this episode seem set up. They were not."

The episode continues into the coffee segment of the day, with the conversation shifting toward Seinfeld memories. Suddenly, Richards begins to open up, ultimately addressing the previously mentioned incident. It’s a completely unexpected and refreshingly heartfelt moment, and one which I believe to be genuine.

Whether Jerry had planned for Richards to have this platform to express remorse, I don’t know. He has said the episodes are all unscripted, and the conversation felt as natural as any of the others, so I trust it was. I don’t condone what Richards said in 2004, but I do believe in second chances, and if this experience can serve toward one for him, I think that’s a great thing. Jerry says it best, "It's up to you to say, 'I've been carrying this baggage enough.'" Which is true of all of us.

Jerry has said he’s unsure whether he’ll film another set of episodes, and perhaps this is the best possible ending. I’d love to see more guests and think the possibilities are as of yet unlimited. Still, should Jerry choose to bring the project to a close as it is, he can do so feeling very proud of the work he’s done and knowing we’ll be eagerly awaiting whatever he does next.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Writing Mug for Thought has always been a reflection of my own life, dreams and anxieties as a twenty-something trying to figure out what the heck to do for the next thirty years. In this crazy, sometimes heartbreaking process of self-discovery, reading the work of fellow wanderers, as I affectionately call us, has been a source of great comfort and inspiration. One such space is The Unlost, created by Therese Schwenkler.

We’re all looking for some sense of purpose, for some sense of direction, and yet the only strategies we’ve ever been handed come from ridiculous sources like Cosmo Magazine and Jersey Shore and – well, our friends, who unfortunately are just as lost as we are. Have you ever noticed how much the advice out there for young people FREAKING SUCKS?? Well, my goal is to bring that suckiness to an end.

I've been following Therese's experience with this process as I consider taking a similar leap of faith in the coming years(!), and she's become a terrific mentor and friend. In the following video, Therese and Sarah Goshman, who's joined in her movement, speak about leadership, actively shaping our own paths and why we can be hopeful about our futures.

I hope you find the conversation interesting and it inspires some questions of your own. A big thanks to Therese and Sarah for taking the time to prepare this video and helping us all get a bit closer to an unlost place.